"Hollywood Opal" Is the Hair Color to Try If You're Over Pastel

Throughout all of 2017, pastels were the buzziest of all hair colors. We saw a departure from traditional shades in favor of something lighter and brighter—peach hair colors were particularly popular. Remember the pink champagne and the rose-gold hair craze? We do, especially since we're still not over them.

We even saw the emergence of "color-misting," the color technique that results in an undulating rainbow color. (It makes sense these types of colors were trending, especially because the same ones were trending in the makeup industry. We're still seeing everything unicorn-inspired.)

The trend is far from over, especially since, according to Allure, there's a new take on peach hair. This one is softer, subtler, and a bit more glamorous than its previous counterparts. It's called "Hollywood Opal," and it was coined by a Seattle salon.

Ross Michael Salon posted this photo, captioning it, "'Hollywood Opal' The Softest Of All Peaches By Michael & Melody Using All @pravana and @olaplex." We think this soft and almost shimmery color is the perfect 2018 update to pastel hair. "We strongly believe softer, delicate colors will dominate 2018 hair trends. It has to do with the wearability of the color in today's market," Mike Lowenstein told Allure. He created the look with his wife and business partner Melody.

To start the look, hair must be a medium blonde or red (or even lighter). Darker hair won't show the soft highlights and lowlights, and it could be damaged in the coloring process. If the starting hair color is light enough, a Pravana Lightening Wand is used to lift the color even lighter—to a platinum blonde shade. All the while Olaplex is used, which is a treatment that strengthens the hair's bonds to prevent damage.

"We cancel the undertones by applying a heavily diluted violet-based toner, then custom mix a variety of pastel direct dyes," says Lowenstein. "It's applied depending on the results of the previous steps. We always like to say that the hair tells us what to do and approach our applications from an organic and free place."

The color is, clearly, best complemented by Old Hollywood waves, which shows the softness and complexity of the color. We think it's the perfect combination of modern and classic—almost how Bette Davis and Katharine Hepburn would wear their hair if they were walking red carpets today.